“Three‑strikes law in California basically allows a district attorney, if you have two prior serious or violent felonies on your record, and you’re now being charged with a serious or violent felony, they allow the district attorney to charge you with those two prior convictions. Now you’d be looking at 25 years to life in prison based on that new charge.
A serious or violent felony in California is basically an elevated felony or more serious felony like robbery, carjacking, murder, attempt murder, a kidnapping. Just more serious felonies. Those convictions can affect a sentence if they charge you with a third strike, 25 to life. If you just have one prior strike, and you’re facing a new felony, they can actually double any sentence that you have. It’s mandatory state prison time.” – Philip Greenberg
